Appliance for filing and handling books.



S. H. RICE.

APPLIANCE FORFILING AND HANDLING BOOKS.

APPLICATION FILED 1UNEI5. 19H.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1 s. H. RICE.

APPLIANCE FOR FILING AND HANDLING BOOKS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I5. I9!)- 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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S. H. RICE.

APPLIANCE FOR FILING AND HANDLING BOOKS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15. 19!].

1,288,680. Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3A Manna S. H. RICE.

APPLIANCE FOR FILING AND HANDLING BOOKS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15. I917.

1,288,80. Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 Mo/M MA 061mm 35 6 v f arena SAMUEL I-I. RICE, 0F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO KALAMAZOO LOOSE LEAF BINDER 00., OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

APPLIANCE FOR FILING AND HANDLING BOOKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24:, 1918.

Application filed June 15, 1917. Serial No. 174,917.

" '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL H. RICE, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Appliances for Filing and Handling Books, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in appliances for filing and handling books.

My improvements are particularly adapted for the handling of books of large dimensions, such as plots, maps, and other regord books, although advantageous for use in handling smaller books, particularly where two relative books are employed as a set.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved appliance for the handling and filing of record books which greatly facilitates their use and lessens labor of handling and using the same.

Second, to provide an appliance of the class described which is of large capacity and at the same time comparatively simple and compact in structure.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a side elevation of a structure embodying the features of my invention, the illustration being largely conventional.

Fig. II is a detail perspective with parts broken away to better show structural details, one of the books being shown in its elevated and extended position.

Fig. III is an enlarged vertical transverse section on a line corresponding to line 33 of Fig. II.

Fig. IV is an enlarged detail vertical transverse section on a line corresponding to the broken line H of Fig. II.

Fig. V is a detail side elevation of a modified form of my invention, the illustration being largely conventional.

Fig. VI is a detail perspective view of the embodiment shown in Fig. V.

Fig. VII is an enlarged detail vertical section on a line corresponding to line 77 of Fig. VI.

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional Views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, the structure illustrated comprises a frame consisting of bottom longitudinal rails 1, top longitudinal rails 2, uprights 3, end cross pieces at, and wall panels 5.

The cabinet is open at the top and may be closed by the roll top 6, the side rails being provided with grooves 7 for the edges of the top.

The structural features of the cabinet or casing are not described with further detail, as they form no material part of my present invention.

I provide a plurality of vertical ways 8 for the book holders 9, the ends of these holders 9 being extended through the ways and provided with rings 10 to which the cables 11 are connected. These cables are passed over pulleys 12 and connected to counterweights 13. The oounterweights are preferably built up of a plurality of bars, as shown, so that they may be adjusted to the weight of the books to be carried. In the embodiment illustrated herein sheaves 12 are arranged between the spaced bars 14 forming a part of the longitudinal rails of the frame. The ways are in the form of a pair of bars secured in a spaced relation to the top and bottom rails.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. I roller support members 15 are positioned to receive a holder between them and to constitute supports for the record books when they are elevated and opened.

The rollers are positioned so that their tops are in the same plane and just below the plane in which the top 6 travels. When the books are in their lower position they are held in an upright position by these support members] In the modification shown in Figs. V, VI and VII, the support members 16 are in the form of flat plates or bars. These support members 16 have the advantage of occupying less space than the roller support members 15, but lack the advantage of the rollers which facilitate the moving of the books alongpn the top of the cabinet.

Structures embodying the features of my invention greatly facilitate the handling and use of record books, particularly those of large dimensions, although the same are of value in the handling of smaller books, as the books are all readily accessible and any desired book may be readily brought to position for use or closed and retracted into the cabinet where it is entirely out of the way. The cabinet may be made of metal or other suitable material and may be conveniently made dust and fireproof.

I have not attempted to illustrate or describe all of the modifications and adaptations which I contemplate, as I believe the disclosure made will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as conditions may dictate.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letrters Patent, is:

1. In a structure of the class described, the combination of an open topped cabinet provided with a roll top or cover, vertically adjustable holders, opposed ways coacting with the ends of said holders, suspending cables for said holders provided with adjustable counterweights, and roller support members disposed at the sides of said holders so that the books carried thereby may be raised and lowered between them and they constitute means for supporting the books in an upright position on the holders when the books are lowered and So that the books when raised may be opened thereon.

2. In a structure of the class described, the combination of an open-topped cabinet provided with a roll top or cover, vertically adjustable holders, opposed ways coacting with the ends of said holders, suspending cables for said holders provided with adj ustable counterweights, and support members disposed at the sides of said holders so that the books carried thereby may be raised and lowered between them. and they constitute means for supporting the books in an upright position on the holders when the books are lowered and so that the books when raised may be opened thereon.

3. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a frame, vertically adjustable holders, opposed ways coacting with the ends of said holders, suspending cables for said holders provided with adjustable counter-weights, and roller support members disposed at the sides of said holders so that the books carried thereby may be raised and lowered between themyand they constitute 4. In a structure of the class described,

the combination of a frame, vertically adjustable holders, opposed ways coacting with the ends of said holders, suspending cables for said holders provided with adjustable counterweights. and support members disposed at the sides of said holders so that the books carried thereby may be raised and lowered between them and they constitute means for supporting the books in an upright position on the holders when the books are lowered and so that the books when raised may be opened thereon.

5. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a frame, vertically adjustable holders, opposed ways coacting with the ends of said holders, support members disposed at the sides of said holders so that the books carried thereby may be raised and lowered between them and they constitute means for supporting the books when the books are lowered so that the books when raised may be opened thereon, and counter weights for said holders disposed below said supports.

6. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a frame, vertically adjustable holders, supports disposed at the sides of the holders so that the books carried thereby may be raised and lowered between them, and they constitute means for supporting the books in an upright position on the holders when the books are lowered and so that the books when raised may be opened thereon, and counterweights for the holders disposed below said supports.

7 In a structure of the class described, the combination of a frame, vertically adjustable holders, support members disposed at the sides of the holders so that the books carried thereby may be raised and lowered between them, and counterweights for the holders disposed between the holders.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and sealin the presence of two Witnesses:

H. L. CARBURGER, M. F. REINY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,'by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. 0. 

